7.  The applicant was born in 1978 and is a resident of Varna. At the time of the events, he lived in Plovdiv.
8.  On 17 August 1999 a burglary was committed where, inter alia, a television and a video recorder were stolen.
9.  On an unspecified date a preliminary investigation was opened.
10.  On 26 August 1999 the apartment where the applicant was living was searched by the police, with the apparent subsequent approval of the Prosecutor's Office. Neither the applicant nor any other representative of the household was present. The search was conducted in the presence of two witnesses, neither of them was indicated to be the residence's manager or a representative of the municipality. Various items were seized among which were three photo cameras, a hi-fi system and a wrench.
11.  On the same day, 26 August 1999, the applicant was arrested in Plovdiv and taken into police custody. He was then transferred to Pazardzhik.
12.  On 28 August 1999, under an order issued by an investigator and approved by the Prosecutor's Office, the applicant was placed under twenty-four hours' preliminary detention as of 5 p.m. and held at the Pazardzhik Regional Investigation Service. The applicant was suspected of having committed the burglary on 17 August 1999 because the stolen television and a wrench, allegedly used to perpetrate the offence, had been found in his apartment. In addition, at the time of his arrest the applicant had apparently attempted to abscond.
13.  On 29 August 1999 the Prosecutor's Office extended the preliminary detention of the applicant for another two days until 5 p.m. on 31 August 1999.
14.  On 31 August 1999 the applicant, together with two other individuals, was charged with having committed the burglary of 17 August 1999. He was remanded in custody upon a decision of an investigator which was confirmed later in the day by the Prosecutor's Office. In ordering the remand in custody, the investigator stated that the applicant lacked a permanent address, that he had committed numerous other burglaries, that he might re-offend and that he might abscond as he had apparently done in 1998 when a national arrest warrant had been issued against him.
15.  On 8 October 1999, under an order issued by an investigator, the charges against the applicant were amended to include another four burglaries and his detention on remand was maintained. In ordering the continued detention, the investigator cited the gravity of the offences with which the applicant had been charged, the likelihood that he might abscond and his personality.
16.  On 12 November 1999 the applicant appealed against his detention. He maintained that his continued detention was unwarranted as there was no danger that he would abscond or re-offend because, inter alia, he had a permanent address in another city and his brother could pay his bail. The applicant also relied on Article 5 of the Convention in his submissions.
17.  The Pazardzhik District Court dismissed the applicant's appeal on 18 November 1999. The court found that the applicant had been charged with a serious offence which warranted mandatory detention. In addition, the court concluded that the applicant might abscond because he did not have any personal identity documents, had no permanent address and was apparently residing in an apartment rented by one of his friends. It also found that it was likely that he would re-offend considering the fact that he had perpetrated the offences with which he had been charged during the operational period of a previous one-year suspended sentence. In respect of the arguments pertaining to Article 5 of the Convention, the court examined them and found that the applicant's continued detention was in conformity with the exceptions provided in the said provision.
18.  The applicant filed another appeal against his detention on 22 November 1999 arguing that there was no longer a danger that he might abscond or re-offend because his brother was willing to pay his bail, support him financially and provide him with employment.
19.  On 26 November 1999 the Pazardzhik District Court dismissed the applicant's appeal. The court found, inter alia, that the applicant had failed to provide evidence that he even had a brother and was unable to indicate where the said brother lived, what kind of business he was running and where.
20.  On 22 December 1999 the applicant filed his third appeal against his detention arguing that he had been in detention for more than four months and that there was no longer a danger that he might abscond or re-offend because his brother was willing to pay his bail, support him financially and provide him with employment.
21.  An indictment was filed against the applicant on an unspecified date.
22.  The judge rapporteur of the Pazardzhik District Court, also on an unspecified date, ruled that the court would examine the applicant's latest appeal at its hearing scheduled for 25 February 2000. For undisclosed reasons the hearing was postponed to 4 April 2000.
23.  The Pazardzhik District Court dismissed the applicant's third appeal at its hearing on 4 April 2000. The court found that the applicant had been charged with a serious offence and that he might abscond because he did not have a permanent address and was residing in an apartment rented by one of the co-accused. It also found that it was likely that he would re-offend considering the fact that he had perpetrated the offences with which he had been charged during the operational period of a previous one-year suspended sentence. The decision was upheld on appeal by the Pazardzhik Regional Court on 13 April 2000.
24.  In response to a fourth appeal of the applicant against his detention filed on an unspecified date, the Pazardzhik District Court found in his favour on 17 May 2000. On appeal by the prosecuting authorities the decision was quashed by the Pazardzhik Regional Court on 30 May 2000. The latter court found that the applicant might abscond because he did not have a permanent address and was residing in an apartment rented by one of his friends. It also found that it was likely that he would re-offend considering his past criminal tendencies and that he lacked employment.
25.  The subsequent development of the criminal proceedings is unclear. It is also unknown whether, and when, the applicant was released or granted bail. However, as of the date of the applicant's submissions of March 2005, the case was still pending before the court of first instance.
26.  The applicant contended, which the Government did not challenge, that as from 26 August 1999 he was detained for a period of two months at the Pazardzhik Regional Investigation Service and was then transferred to the Pazardzhik Prison where he remained at least until 30 May 2000.
27.  In the applicant's submission the cells were small, overcrowded and below street level. There was no natural light or fresh air in the cells. Quite often there were rodents and cockroaches. A bucket was provided for the sanitary needs of the detained. There was no hot water, soap or other toiletries. The applicant was not permitted to go out of his cell for exercise. The food provided was of insufficient quantity and substandard. The applicant was not allowed to read newspapers or books.
28.  In the applicant's submission the conditions in the Pazardzhik Prison were slightly better than those in the Pazardzhik Regional Investigation Service. Similarly, though, the food was insufficient and of the same inferior quality; the cells were small and overcrowded; fresh air and light were insufficient and a bucket was provided for the sanitary needs of the detained. Limited exercise was provided in the prison yard.